AFL Draft review: Collingwood

THERE were no big surprises come draft night for the Magpies, getting both Isaac Quaynor and Will Kelly who had been touted to join the club. Many were nervous about whether or not the club would have enough draft points to secure both players but credit to Collingwood they held strong and landed both defenders with no major issues.

National Draft:

Isaac Quaynor – General Defender

Quaynor will be a great fit for the Pies with his speed and daring nation to take the game on. The Oakleigh Chargers product, oozes skill and impresses with his ability to read the game and intercept mark. His ability to peel off players and impact the contest is second to none. It is not often that Quaynor is beaten in a one-on-one credit to his football smarts and ability to cover the ground and match his opponents for speed and athleticism. Through development and more time on the training track Quaynor has plenty of potential to play through the midfield and become a real impact player who can burst through the centre of the ground. The talented defender has high endurance levels, is good by foot and is an all-round classy player that will slot right into the mix at Collingwood.

Will Kelly – Key Position Defender

The father/son pick will find himself at home in the black and white and will be a valuable asset to the club. Paired with former Oakleigh Chargers teammate, Isaac Quaynor, the two could become a formidable duo down back with Quaynor’s speed and Kelly’s lockdown ability. Kelly can play the traditional key position defenders role of nullifying his opponent but also has the skill to be a rebounding defender who can play loose and take intercept marks which will be a handy feature for the Pies. Standing at 193cm Kelly has shown that he can also play up forward, making his versatility a key feature of his game. Son of premiership great, Craig Kelly, Will has plenty to offer to the club with his strong hands and technical kicking action.

Atu Bosenavulagi – Small Forward

Another Oakleigh Chargers player, Bosenavulagi has plenty of X-factor about him. The exciting small forward will add an extra level of dynamism around the goals credit to his ability to hit the scoreboard. His speed is a great asset for his game and with a big pre-season with the Pies he will aim to increase his endurance to ensure that he can perform on the big stage and increase his moments of magic for longer to make him a real force to be reckoned with in the future.

Rookie Draft:

Tim Broomhead – Midfielder/Forward

After severely breaking his leg against GWS the luckless Pie has been re-rookied by the club. Broomhead offers great commitment and is not afraid to put his body on the line as we have seen across his career. His dedication to rehab speaks volume to his character and willingness to play footy. The medium sized midfielder is classy across the ground and can impact the contest. He has also shown plenty of versatility to play down back, up forward and in the middle of the ground.

Sam Murray – General Defender

Collingwood have given troubled defender Sam Murray a lifeline and re-rookied him after a shaky season off the track. The running defender provides great dash off half-back and has showed plenty of promise on the field with his dare and desire to take the game on. The potential for Murray is high with his ability to win the ball and propel it forward, he just needs to hone in his effectiveness around the ground.

Summary:

Collingwood really went after speed this draft season recruiting players such as Quaynor and Bosenavulagi who offer plenty of dash. They also aimed to bolster their defensive line up with the likes of Kelly who can lockdown key players and change up his game plan to attack the ball in the air with his intercept marking. There is plenty to look forward to with the young draftees which will provide Collingwood fans with excitement after seeing the development of former round one pick, Jaidyn Stephenson shine on the AFL stage. With readymade players such as Broomhead and Murray also on the books, Collingwood’s defensive end looks relatively sound.